As reported by TMZ, the 70-year-old comedian was stopped for a traffic violation while driving in Burbank, which subsequently led to his arrest for suspected drug possession following a search of his vehicle.
Comedian Paul Rodriguez was subsequently apprehended and placed in custody; however, he asserted that the narcotics did not belong to him and alleged that the officer behaved inappropriately during the search.
As reported by the Daily Mail, the comedian suspected that the incident was driven by racial bias.
At the moment his vehicle was stopped, Rodriguez was resting in the passenger seat, and the officer, whom he identified as ‘Caucasian,’ reportedly struck him to rouse him.
Regarding the drugs, he asserted that they were the property of his friend, who was operating the vehicle.
Despite his friend’s confession that the drugs belonged to her, he was taken into custody.
Rodriguez alleged that he was subjected to physical mistreatment and that his car was being seized.
The Daily Mail reported that authorities issued a citation and released Rodriguez for misdemeanor drug possession, with the case set to be forwarded to the city attorney for further examination. However, officials did not address his claims.
Rodriguez has faced difficult times lately due to the loss of his longtime friend, Donald Serrato, who passed away while visiting the comedian’s residence in Los Angeles. It has been reported that he died of natural causes.
Rodriguez has enjoyed a successful career in comedy for more than four decades, participating in prominent television shows including The Golden Girls, Touched By An Angel, and The Twilight Zone, as well as lending his voice to animated series such as King Of The Hill, Dora The Explorer, and The Proud Family.
